Major (Ionian) vs Melodic Minor
The C major (ionian) and the C melodic minor share 6 notes — C, D, F, G, A, B. From there, the C major (ionian) adds E, while the C melodic minor adds Eb.
Ukulele, tuned low to high: G, C, E, A. 12 frets.
- G string: fret 0 G (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Melodic Minor), fret 2 A (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Melodic Minor), fret 4 B (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Melodic Minor), fret 5 C (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Melodic Minor), fret 7 D (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Melodic Minor), fret 8 Eb (flat 3), fret 9 E (3), fret 10 F (4 of C Major (Ionian) and 4 of C Melodic Minor), fret 12 G (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Melodic Minor).
- C string: fret 0 C (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Melodic Minor), fret 2 D (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Melodic Minor), fret 3 Eb (flat 3), fret 4 E (3), fret 5 F (4 of C Major (Ionian) and 4 of C Melodic Minor), fret 7 G (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Melodic Minor), fret 9 A (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Melodic Minor), fret 11 B (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Melodic Minor), fret 12 C (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Melodic Minor).
- E string: fret 0 E (3), fret 1 F (4 of C Major (Ionian) and 4 of C Melodic Minor), fret 3 G (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Melodic Minor), fret 5 A (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Melodic Minor), fret 7 B (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Melodic Minor), fret 8 C (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Melodic Minor), fret 10 D (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Melodic Minor), fret 11 Eb (flat 3), fret 12 E (3).
- A string: fret 0 A (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Melodic Minor), fret 2 B (7 of C Major (Ionian) and 7 of C Melodic Minor), fret 3 C (root of C Major (Ionian) and root of C Melodic Minor), fret 5 D (2 of C Major (Ionian) and 2 of C Melodic Minor), fret 6 Eb (flat 3), fret 7 E (3), fret 8 F (4 of C Major (Ionian) and 4 of C Melodic Minor), fret 10 G (5 of C Major (Ionian) and 5 of C Melodic Minor), fret 12 A (6 of C Major (Ionian) and 6 of C Melodic Minor).
Both scales above are drawn on one ukulele fretboard in the key of C. Notes belonging to both are drawn as a split two-color dot, so the notes they share and the notes unique to each are visible in one picture.
How the formulas differ
Scale degrees are the key-independent way to compare two scales — these stay the same in every key, and they are what actually distinguishes one scale from another.
| Scale | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Major (Ionian) | R · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 |
| Melodic Minor | R · 2 · b3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 |
Notes in common
| Note | In Major (Ionian) | In Melodic Minor |
|---|---|---|
| C | R | R |
| D | 2 | 2 |
| F | 4 | 4 |
| G | 5 | 5 |
| A | 6 | 6 |
| B | 7 | 7 |
Notes that differ
- Only in the major (ionian): E (3)
- Only in the melodic minor: Eb (b3)